OPINION
Newcastle United are in desperate need of a new striker this summer, and an opportunity may have arisen for the club to snap up a bargain buy in the coming weeks.
As reported by the Mirror, Aston Villa bosses have asked manager Steve Bruce to raise £50million in the transfer market in an attempt to keep the club afloat.
The newspaper claim that Bruce will have to raise that figure over the next year, with star players Jack Grealish, James Chester and Jonathan Kodjia all set to leave in a £50million fire sale.
And this is where Newcastle come in.
Ivory Coast striker Kodjia has endured a difficult season with injury, but would represent a smart buy for Newcastle as they look for a new striker to lead the line.
The 28-year-old forward was Villa’s top scorer the season before last, netting 19 goals for the club as he ran Championship defences ragged on a regular basis.
Kodjia also enjoyed similar goalscoring form for former club Bristol City, and looks like he could be ready for the step up to the Premier League.
His pace and power up front, with Kodjia standing at 6ft 2in [Transfermarkt] put him in good stead to make an instant impact, and he will have no problem with the physicality of the Premier League after three seasons in the second tier.
His finishing ability is also accomplished, and his short passing is an underrated facet of his game, allowing him to link up nicely with teammates in attack.
Considering Villa’s current financial situation, and the fact that Kodjia cost the club £11million in 2016, the Ivory Coast international could end up being a steal for the Magpies.
A deal around that £11million mark or slightly more would represent brilliant value for money in today’s market, and amidst the news that Rafa Benitez will again have a modest budget to work with, such a deal would please Newcastle bosses as well.
